Health Topics

Tots, Teens & Older Adults

Older Adults

Healthy Eating

Find Out More Healthy Eating means eating a range of foods to give your body all the nutrients it needs. Check out our simple tips to help you get on track with healthy eating and stay there.

Exercise

Find Out More Being physically active can improve your physical and mental health whatever your age. You are never too old or too unfit to start being more active. Don't know where to start? Try here!

Mental Health

Find Out More Everyone feels down sometimes. Usually people stop feeling down after a short time. Sometimes people cannot stop feeling down. But there's always support available to help you.

Smoking

Find Out More Quitting smoking isn't always easy. People who receive help and support from their local stop smoking service are much more likely to quit successfully and are four times more likely to stay smoke-free.

Sexual Health

Alcohol

Find Out More Alcohol can be fun, sociable and it can be enjoyed safely. However, alcohol does have an impact on your health so we have some guides on how to minimise the risks.

Health at Work

Find Out More Our work gives us a sense of identity, responsibility and a chance to form relationships with other people. It is important that we feel healthy, happy and safe at work.

Drugs

Find Out More Drug misuse can be very harmful to your health. Drug misuse can include using or taking legal and illegal drugs.

Communication Support

Find Out More Shetland Island's Council and NHS Shetland have been working on a project to help people with Learning Disabilities communicate better about their health.

Birth to 5 Years

Find Out More Information on breastfeeding, formula feeding and introduction of other foods for babies.

5 to 12 Years

Find Out More It's important to keep track of the development of your child. Kids aged 5-12 are growing and learning all the time – starting healthy habits now can make a difference for the rest of their life.

Teenagers

Find Out More A lot of changes happen between being a child and being an adult - changes in the body and the brain. Growing up can be exciting - but it isn't always easy.

Befriending

Find Out More The befriending scheme in Shetland helps people aged 60+ who have limited social contact and support by matching them with a “befriender” or volunteer to spend time with.

Combating Loneliness

Find Out More Anybody of any age can be lonely. Loneliness can have a huge impact on your health and it can be very difficult to ask for help or support. This information could help you or someone you know - don't be afraid to let someone know how you are feeling.

Falls Prevention

Find Out More Anyone can have a fall, but as you get older you are more likely to fall, and more likely to be injured if you do. There are a few things that make you more at risk of falls such as problems with sight, different medications and hazards in your home.

Healthy Eating

Find Out More As you get older your tastes and appetites can change – it is still important to follow a healthy diet and try to maintain a healthy weight. For most people following a healthy, balanced diet will keep you on track.

Mental Health

Find Out More Mental health is about thoughts, feelings, relationships, and how you feel in yourself. There are lots of things that can affect our mental health – for better and worse.

Dementia

Find Out More There are different kinds of Dementia and “Alzheimer’s Disease” is the most common. Dementia is a lot more common the older you get, but it can happen to younger people too.

Physical Activity

Find Out More Staying active as you get older is important for many reasons and has lots of benefits. If you are over 65 you should aim to do the same amount of exercise as other adults – 150 minutes a week, and exercise to strengthen muscles 2 days a week.

Pensions & Benefits

Find Out More There is a lot of information available about pensions and benefits, and the details always seem to be changing - even the age you get your pension might have changed!

Bereavement

Find Out More Losing someone close to you is an inevitable part of life – that doesn’t make it any easier when it happens, even if the death is expected. Every loss is different, and bereavement can affect everyone in different ways.

About Us & Our Mission

The Health Improvement Team is part of NHS Shetland. We work to improve the health and well-being of the Shetland population by developing new ways to tackle health issues. We work with individuals, families, communities, businesses, voluntary organisations and Government (local and national) to tackle these issues and make Shetland a healthier place to live and work. Read more

At this busy time of year, it’s easy for viruses which cause diarrhoea and vomiting, often known as the “spewy bug”, to be passed on. Anyone can catch the virus, but children are often more susceptible through socialising, school and parties. Know what to do if you/your child catches the spewy bug and how to prevent the spread of it.